Dual-actuated switch-operating mechanism

ABSTRACT

This invention in the preferred form relates to a dryer door switch-operating mechanism which in major part comprises a single-operation member adapted for both axial and rotary motion. Operation of the member requires both motions and in sequential order of first axial motion caused by closing of the door and then rotary motion created by manual reset to close the switch.

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented AssigneeDUAL-ACTUATED SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM 5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 200/6l.62,

200/4 Int. Cl H01h 3/16 Field of Search ZOO/61.62,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,734,281 2/1956 Kauffmann 34/873,149,212 9/1964 Smith......... ZOO/61.7

3,539,736 11/1970 Naimer.... 200 4 3,134,862 5/1964 Nelson 200/4FOREIGN-PATENTS 867,129 5/1961 GreatBritain zoo/61.7

Primary Examiner-David Smith, Jr. Assistant Examiner-M. GinsburgAttorneys-Alfred G. Gross and James A. Wanner ABSTRACT: This inventionin the preferred form relates to a dryer door switch-operating mechanismwhich in major part comprises a single-operation member adapted for bothaxial and rotary motion. Operation of the member requires both motionsand in sequential order of first axial motion caused by closing of thedoor and then rotary motioncreated by manual 1,958,123 5/1934Barretetal. 210/72 reset to close the switch.

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01 E mum vww 8m DUAL-ACTUATEI) SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a switchmechanism which requires two separate and sequential operations tooperate a single switch. One of these operations could be conducted byclosing a door and the second of these operations could be manual,generally in such form as a pushbutton.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a switchoperation mechanism which is provided with relatively few operationalmembers which are simplified, easy to manufacture and form a compactstructure.

One primary application of such a switch operation mechanism is adomestic laundry appliance such as a clothes dryer wherein operation ofthe clothes dryer is available only after the dryer door is closed and afurther operation of pushing a manual reset button. These two operationsin combination and in this sequential order close a single switch whichactivates a control system for the clothes dryer.

A further object of this invention is that the switch mechanism operatesto open or deactivate the switch upon a single operation, namely openingthe door. After opening the door the switch will only be reactivated byboth closing the door and pushing the manual reset in sequential order.

A further object of the invention is that the switch is operated by asingle-operation member, the operation member being capable of both anaxial and a rotary motion. Furthermore, in the preferred form the axialmotion is caused by one operation, such as the door closing, while therotary motion is caused by a second operation, such as by pushing amanual reset.

Such a switch-operating mechanism is particularly useful as a safetystart mechanism for a domestic appliance such as a clothes dryer whichhas sufficient interior volume so as to be enticing to small children orpets. The activation of a control circuit with the switch mechanism ofthe present invention cannot occur solely upon closing of the door butrequires both closing the door and operation of a manual reset.Operation cannot occur by operation of the manual reset and then closingthe door. Thus the machine cannot be operated by a small child entrappedin the interior since activation requires operation of the manual resetwhich would in turn require opening the door to reach the manual reset.

Shown and described below are several forms of preferred embodimentspracticing the present invention of a simplified switch operationmechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a domesticappliance, such as a clothes dryer, incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG.I of one form of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the switch-operating mechanismof a second modification as viewed from the interior of the cabinet.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the switch-operating mechanismof FIG. 3 taken along the line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the operation member of theswitch-operating mechanism of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view ofthe operation member of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 3 but of a thirdmodification of the switch-operating mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the switch-operating mechanismof FIG. 7 taken along the line 88.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the operation member of FIGS. 7 and8, and

FIG. 10 is an end view of the operation member of FIG. 9. Referring nowto the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses a domestic appliance in the form ofaclothes dryer 2 in which the present invention can be utilized in itspreferred form. The clothes dryer 2 is provided with an outer casing 4and a control knob 6 which operates a timer mechanism not shown.

The dryer cabinet furthermore is provided with a front access opening 8for loading and unloading clothes and normally closed by a door 10having hinges l2. Mounted on the outer casing 4, adjacent the edge ofthe door 10 provided with hinges 12, is a manual reset button 14. Theclosing of the door 10 and the operation of the manual reset buttonprovide two motions utilized to operate the switch mechanism describedbelow.

FIG. 2 shows one preferred embodiment of the present invention of thedoor switch mechanism 15. This mechanism is provided with a microswitch16 having a plunger 18. The microswitch 16 is of the type that thecontacts, not shown, are closed when the plunger 18 is depressed and thecontacts are spring biased open when no force is applied to plunger andthus the plunger is in an extended position. The microswitch I6 issupported on a mounting bracket 20 which is in turn supported off thefront panel 22 of the cabinet 4 near the access opening. The plunger 18is guided by an opening 19 in the mounting bracket.

The mounting bracket 20 also supports a switch operation member 24 sothat the operation member 24 may reciprocate. Mounted with respect tothe switch operation member 24 by means of a pin 26 is a door engagementmember 28. The door engagement member 28 is mounted for axialreciprocation through openings 30 and 32 in the mounting bracket 20. Thedoor engagement member 28 also extends through an opening 34 located inthe front panel 22 at a position where the front panel 22 is recessedfor location of the door 10 in a closed position. The door engagementmember 28 is provided with a beveled edge 36 on the end protrudingthrough the openings 32 and 34.

A leaf spring 38 is supported on one end by the mounting bracket. Theother end of the leaf spring 38 engages the operation member 24 so as toact as a rotary positioning means by biasing the operation member 24toward the front panel 22 about pin 26 and to also axially bias theoperation member 24 toward the door engagement member 28. Since the doorengagement member 28 is pin mounted with respect to the operation member24 by means of pin 26, the door engagement member 28 will also be biasedaxially through the openings 30, 32 and 34.

When the door 10 is open, the operation member 24 and the doorengagement member 28 will be in a first axial position 24 and 28 shownin FIG. 2 in phantom lines. Upon clos ing of the door 10, the edge ofthe door will engage the beveled edge 36 of the door engagement member28 so as to axially slide the door engagement member 28 and theoperation member 24 against the bias of the leaf spring 38 to a secondaxial position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. It is noted that when theoperation member 24 is in this second axial position, it has not yetengaged the plunger 18 of the microswitch 16.

The operation member 24 is free to pivot around the pin 26 against thebias of the leaf spring 38. The operation member 29 is provided with anelongated axial slot 42 through which a pin 44, carried by the manualreset button I4, is entrapped. The button 14 is reciprocated on an axistransverse to the axis of the operation member 24. The button 14 ismounted by a grommet 46 on the front panel 22 in a position with respectto the door 10 generally shown in FIG. 1.

Due to closing of the door the operation member 24 is in the secondaxial position which is also the first rotary position and shown bysolid lines in FIG. 2. It is also noted that when the operation member24 is in this position caused by the biasing of the leaf spring 38, anddue to the pin 44, the manual reset button 14 extends outwardly beyondthe grommet 46.

An axial force on the manual reset button 14 at this time causes theoperation member 24 to be rotated against the bias of the leaf spring 38to a second rotary position 24" shown also in phantom lines in FIG. 2.During this movement, switch actuation means or the cam face 48 of theoperation member 24 engages the plunger 18 biasing the plunger 18 to aretracted position, thus closing the contact of the microswitch I6.

The can portion of the operation member 24 is also provided with a notch50, which when the operation member 24 is fully rotated to the secondrotary position 24", engages the plunger 18 holding the plunger 18 inthe retracted position. This engagement also holds the operation member24 in the second rotary position 24".

The closing of the contacts of microswitch l6 and the holding of thesecontacts in a closed position will activate a circuit, including thetimer, for operation of the machine. This circuit will remain activatedas long as the operation member 24 is held in the second rotary position24". Upon ending of the dryer operation cycle the timer will deenergizethe circuit but the microswitch 16 will still remain in the closed oractivated position. When the door 10 is opened, either during or afterthe dryer operation cycle, the leaf spring 38 will bias both theoperation member 24 and the door engagement member 28 axially toward thefirst axial position 24' and 28'.

Upon sufi'icient axial motion, the notch 50 will no longer engage theplunger 18 of the microswitch l6 and the leaf spring 38 will bias theoperation member 24 from the second rotary position 24' toward the firstrotary position shown in solid lines, which will in turn axially movethe manual reset button 14 outwardly.

The motion of the operation member, when the door 10 is open, removesthe force from the plunger 18, which opens the contacts of the switch 16by means of a spring (not shown) generally located in the microswitch.The operating mechanism will again be in the phantom position 24' and 28shown in FIG. 2.

It 24noted that operation of the manual reset button, when the door 10is open, and thus the operation member 24 is in the first axial position24', will not activate the microswitch 16 since this rotary motion willnot bring the cam face 48 into engagement with the plunger 18.

It is, therefore, noted that both operations of closing the door 10 andpushing the manual reset button 14 must occur before activation of themicroswitch 16. Furthermore, since the operation member will not beretained in its second rotary position 24", if the manual reset button14 is operated prior to closing of the door 10, the closing of the door10 must be prior to operation of the manual reset button 14 or at leastsimultaneous.

FIGS. 3 to 6 teach another preferred embodiment of the invention locatedbasically in the same position in the clothes dryer of FIG. I as thefirst embodiment. The microswitch 16, including the plunger 18, issupported on a bracket 120. Located generally adjacent to themicroswitch 16 is an operation member 124. This operation member 124 ismounted in the bracket I by bearings 13] and 133, for both an axialreciprocation motion and an annular rotary motion, by means of a doorengagement member 128 and extension 129. The door engagement member 128and extension 129 are integrally injection molded with the operationmember 124 as shown in FIG. 5.

A left-hand coiled compression spring 138 is positioned around theextension 129 between a washer 139 and one end of the operation member124. The compression spring 138 is used to axially bias the operationmember 124 to a first axial position 124 against the bearing 133 asshown in phantom lines in FIG. 3.

The door 10 is hinged on the edge adjacent the location of theswitch-operating mechanism. Therefore, closing of the door 10 will causethe edge ofthe door to apply a force against the door engagementmember128 and thus bias the operation member 124 against the compressionspring 138 to a second axial position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3.

The operation member 124 is provided with an axial cam surface 148,which upon axial movement, would engage the microswitch plunger 18 ifthe operation member 124 were in proper rotary alignment. The closing ofthe door, with movement of the operation member 124 between the firstaxial position and the second axial position, however, will not operatethe plunger 18 since the correct rotary alignment has not yet beenobtained. This axial motion will, however, provide correct axialalignment of the cam surface 148 with the plunger 18.

FIG. 4 shows the switch-operating mechanism of FIG. 3 in end elevation.The solid-line position of the operation member 124 in FIG. 4corresponds to the second axial position or solid-line position of theoperation member 124 shown in FIG. 3. This position is also the firstrotary position of the operation member 124.

As in the embodiment taught in FIG. 2, a manual reset button 14 ismounted on the front panel 22 by means of a grommet 46. The manual resetbutton 14 is axially reciprocatable and is biased outwardly by a spring147. The operation member 124 is provided with a button engagementportion 125 which extends radially through the axis of reciprocation ofthe manual reset button 14.

Operation of the manual reset button 14 against the spring 147 imparts arotary movement of the operation member 124 through the buttonengagement portion 125 which rotates the operation member 124 from thefirst rotary position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 4, to a secondrotary position 125" shown in phantom lines.

The operation member 124 is provided with a rotary cam face 149perpendicular to the axial cam face 148. Since the cam portion or switchactuation means is in axial alignment with the plunger 18 of themicroswitch 16, due to the closing of the door 10, the rotary motionimparted to the operation member 124 will cause the rotary cam face 149to engage the plunger 18, thus closing the contacts of the microswitch16. Friction between the plunger 18 and the top of the cam surface willkeep the operation member 124 in the second rotary position when themanual reset button is released.

As seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the operation member 124 is furtherprovided with a rotary positioning means or barrel cam portion 152having a relatively thin portion 154 and a thick portion 156. A pin 158is supported on the mounting bracket so as to engage the barrel camportion 152 of the operation member 124.

When the operation member 124 is in the first axial position shown inphantom lines in FIG. 3, the pin 158 is within the thin portion 154 ofthe barrel cam 152. This pin, when the operation member 124 is in thisfirst axial position, prevents rotary motion of the operation member 124and thus retains the operation member 124 in the first rotary position.

When the operation member 124 is axially moved to the second axialposition by the closing of the door 10, the pin 158 will now be locatedin the thick portion 156 of the barrel cam 152 so as to no longerprevent rotary motion of the operation member 124. Therefore, rotarymotion can now be imparted to the operation member 124 by the manualreset button 14 to move the operation member 124 to the second rotaryposition. This guarantees that the axial motion of the closing of thedryer door 10 is prior to the rotary motion caused by operation of themanual reset button 14.

Furthermore, the thick portion 156 and thin portion 154 of the barrelcam 152 are connected by a bevel portion 160. This bevel portion 160,along with the pin I58, imparts a rotary motion from the second rotaryposition to the first rotary position to the operation member 124 whenthe door 10 is opened since the spring 138 axially biases the operationmember 124 from the second axial position to the first axial position.This guarantees that the operation member 124 is always in the firstrotary position when it is in the first axial position and thus the door10 must be closed and the manual reset button again operated in order torestart the dryer. The barrel cam 152, along with the pin 158, thusguarantees the proper sequential order.

FIGS. 7 through 10 show a third preferred embodiment of the same generalconfiguration as that shown in FIGS. 3 through 6, but using a differentoperation member 224. This embodiment again has a microswitch 16,including a plunger 18, mounted by a bracket 220 on the front panel 22.The operation member 224 is also mounted by the bracket 220 by means ofbearings 231 and 233.

The operation member 224 is also again provided with an integral doorengagement member 28 and an extension 229. The spring 238, however, inthis embodiment is both a compression spring and a torsion spring, oneend of the spring resting on the button engagement member 224 so as toact as a rotary positioning means. The spring 238 also axially biasesthe operation member 224 to a first axial position 224' shown in phantomlines in FIG. 7.

The closing of the door again provides axial movement against the spring238 to position the operation member 224 in a second axial positionshown in solid lines in FIG. 7. As in the earlier embodiment shown inFIGS. 3 to 6, a manual reset button 14 engages button engagement portion225 of the operation member 224 and is used to rotate the operationmember 224 from a first rotary position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8to a second rotary position 225" shown in phantom lines.

The operation member 224 is provided with a rotary cam face 249 whichengages and depresses the plunger 18 of the microswitch 16 when theoperation member 224 is in the second axial position and rotated fromthe first rotary position to the second rotary position.

Furthermore, the cam portion or switch actuation means is provided witha notch 250 which engages the plunger 18 to retain the operation member224 in the second rotary position against the torsional bias of thespring 238. However, when the door 10 is open, the compression of thespring 238 will axially bias the operation member 224 to the first axialposition, thus disengaging the notch 250 from the plunger 18 so as topermit torsional biasing of the spring 238 to move the operation member224 back to the first rotary position.

The operation member 224, as taught in FIGS. 7 through 10, is alsoprovided with an axial cam face 148 perpendicular to the rotary cam face149. Thus, axial motion of the operation member 224 from the first axialposition to the second axial position, if the operation member 224 isheld in the second rotary position, will cause engagement of the axialcam face 148 of the plunger 18 to depress the plunger.

It is noted, however, that the manual reset button 14 must becontinuously depressed during the axial motion of the operation member224 from the first axial position to the second axial position in orderfor the axial cam face 148 to operate the plunger 18. In this respectthis embodiment is similar to the first embodiment taught in thatclosing of the door must be either prior or simultaneous with theoperation of the manual reset button. If the manual reset button wasdepressed first and then released, the torsion of the spring 238 wouldposition the operation member 224 in the first rotary position so thatthe cam face 148 would not engage the plunger 18.

The axial cam face 148 may be removed from the operation member 224 soas to provide an operation similar to that of the second embodiment.With the axial cam face 148 removed, axial movement of the operationmember 224 from the first axial position to the second axial positionwhen in its second rotary position, will be impossible since the camportion will engage the extended plunger 18 which will prevent furthermotion to the second axial position. Thus, with the axial cam face 148removed, closing of the door must be prior and not simultaneous with theoperation of the manual reset button 14.

The above three modifications teach several of the preferred forms ofpracticing the present invention which requires that two distinctmotions of either simultaneous or sequential order are required tooperate a single switch. However, other modifications may be made to theillustrated embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims includeall such modifications and alternations.

We claim:

1. A switch-operating mechanism requiring two independent operationmotions, said switch-operating mechanism comprising; a switch, anoperation member mounted adjacent said switch for both axial and rotarymovement, said operation member having both first and second axialpositions and first and second rotary positions, cam means on saidoperation member in both axial and annular alignment with said switchwhen said operation member is in said second axial position and saidsecond rotary position, axial biasing means axially biasing saidoperation member to said first axial position, rotary positioning meansretaining said operation member in said first rotary position when saidoperation member is in said first axial position means rotating saidoperation member from said first rotary position to said second rotaryposition when said operation member is in said second axial position,and a separate means from said rotating means for axially moving saidoperation member from said first to said second axial position, wherebyoperation of said operating mechanism requires a first force to movesaid operation member against said biasing means from said first axialposition to said second axial position and then a second independentforce to move said operation member from said first rotary position tosaid second rotary position to position said cam means in said annularalignment with said switch so as to close said switch.

2. The switch operation mechanism of claim 1 wherein said rotarypositioning means cooperates with said axial biasing means to move saidoperation member from said second ro tary position to said first rotaryposition when said operation member moves from said second axialposition to said first axial position.

3. A door-switch-operating mechanism for a clothes dryer having acabinet including a cabinet opening through which clothes are insertedand removed, a door mounted with respect to said cabinet and movablebetween a closed position and an open position so as to selectivelycover said cabinet opening when in said closed position and uncover saidcabinet opening when in said open position, said door-switch-operatingmechanism comprising a switch, a switch operation member, manual resetmeans, and door engagement means, said switch operation memberactivating said switch when said door engagement means is operated bymovement of said door to said closed position and said manual resetmeans is operated so as to further operate said switch-operatingmechanism, said switch being deactivated when said door is moved to saidopen position, the improvement comprising;

said operation member being mounted for both axial and rotary movementadjacent said switch, switch actuation means on said operation member,biasing means axially biasing said operation member to a first axialposition wherein said switch actuation means is out of axial alignmentwith said switch and whereby movement of said door to said closedposition moves said door engagement means and thus axially moves saidoperation member against said biasing means to a second axial positionso that said switch actuation means is in axial alignment with respectto said switch and operation of said manual reset means when saidoperation member is in said second axial alignment position rotatablymoving said switch operation member from a first rotary position to asecond rotary position bringing said switch actuation means into rotaryalignment with said switch thereby actuating said switch.

4. The door-switch-operating mechanism of claim 3 wherein said switchactuation means includes cam means, and said operation member, said cammeans, and said door engagement means are integrally molded.

5. The door-switch-operating mechanism of claim 4 including rotarypositioning means for maintaining said operation member in said firstrotary position when said operation member is in said first axialposition and permitting rotary movement of said operation member fromsaid first rotary position to said second rotary position when saidoperation member is in said second axial position, said rotarypositioning means comprising barrel cam means on said operation member.

1. A switch-operating mechanism requiring two independent operationmotions, said switch-operating mechanism comprising; a switch, anoperation member mounted adjacent said switch for both axial and rotarymovement, said operation member having both first and second axialpositions and first and second rotary positions, cam means on saidoperation member in both axial and annular alignment with said switchwhen said operation member is in said second axial position and saidsecond rotary position, axial biasing means axially biasing saidoperation member to said first axial position, rotary positioning meansretaining said operation member in said first rotary position when saidoperation member is in said first axial position means rotating saidoperation member from said first rotary position to said second rotaryposition when said operation member is in said second axial position,and a separate means from said rotating means for axially moving saidoperation member from said first to said second axial position, wherebyoperation of said operating mechanism requires a first force to movesaid operation member against said biasing means from said first axialposition to said second axial position and then a second independentforce to move said operation member from said first rotary position tosaid second rotary position to position said cam means in said annularalignment with said switch so as to close said switch.
 2. The switchoperation mechanism of claim 1 wherein said rotary positioning meanscooperates with said axial biasing means to move said operation memberfrom said second rotary position to said first rotary position when saidoperation member moves from said second axial position to said firstaxial position.
 3. A door-switch-operating mechanism for a clothes dryerhaving a cabinet including a cabinet opening through which clothes areinserted and removed, a door mounted with respect to said cabinet andmovable between a closed position and an open position so as toselectively cover said cabinet opening when in said closed position anduncover said cabinet opening when in said open position, saiddoor-switch-operating mechanism comprising a switch, a switch operationmember, manual reset means, and door engagement means, said switchoperation member activating said switch when said door engagement meansis operated by movement of said door to said closed position and saidmanual reset means is operated so as to further operate saidswitch-operating mechanism, said switch being deactivated when said dooris moved to said open position, the improvement comprising; saidoperation member being mounted for both axial and rotary movementadjacent said switch, switch actuatioN means on said operation member,biasing means axially biasing said operation member to a first axialposition wherein said switch actuation means is out of axial alignmentwith said switch and whereby movement of said door to said closedposition moves said door engagement means and thus axially moves saidoperation member against said biasing means to a second axial positionso that said switch actuation means is in axial alignment with respectto said switch and operation of said manual reset means when saidoperation member is in said second axial alignment position rotatablymoving said switch operation member from a first rotary position to asecond rotary position bringing said switch actuation means into rotaryalignment with said switch thereby actuating said switch.
 4. Thedoor-switch-operating mechanism of claim 3 wherein said switch actuationmeans includes cam means, and said operation member, said cam means, andsaid door engagement means are integrally molded.
 5. Thedoor-switch-operating mechanism of claim 4 including rotary positioningmeans for maintaining said operation member in said first rotaryposition when said operation member is in said first axial position andpermitting rotary movement of said operation member from said firstrotary position to said second rotary position when said operationmember is in said second axial position, said rotary positioning meanscomprising barrel cam means on said operation member.